ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s armed forces have successfully repelled a large-scale cross-border assault launched by the Afghan Taliban and Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij (FAK), killing at least 200 militants while losing 23 soldiers in the line of duty, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.
According to the ISPR, the coordinated attack began on the night of October 11–12, 2025, along multiple points on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The assault was described as an attempt to destabilize Pakistan’s frontier regions and provide cover for terrorist infiltration.
In its statement, the ISPR said Pakistan’s forces exercised the right to self-defence and decisively repelled the aggression, inflicting heavy losses on the Taliban and affiliated groups. The military confirmed that precision strikes were carried out against Taliban camps, training facilities, and command posts inside Afghan territory, while avoiding civilian casualties.
The statement noted that 21 hostile posts across the border were temporarily captured and multiple terrorist hideouts destroyed. Several facilities linked to FAK, Fitna al-Hindustan (FAH), and ISKP/Daesh were also rendered inoperative during the operation.
Paying tribute to the fallen soldiers, the ISPR said that 23 Pakistani troops embraced martyrdom while defending the country’s sovereignty, and 29 others sustained injuries. The military estimated that more than 200 Taliban and allied militants were killed, with extensive damage inflicted on their posts, camps, and logistical networks.
The ISPR reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to defending its people and territory, warning that any attempt to use Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan would be met with a firm and immediate response. It emphasized that while Pakistan prefers diplomacy over conflict, it will not tolerate continued cross-border aggression.
The statement also expressed concern over the timing of the attack, coinciding with the visit of Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India — described by the ISPR as “the region’s biggest sponsor of terrorism.” The military said the provocation underscored Pakistan’s long-standing position that the Taliban government has been providing active support to terrorist networks.
Urging the Taliban administration to take verifiable action against groups such as FAK, FAH, and ISKP/Daesh, the ISPR warned that Pakistan would continue to eliminate terrorist threats at their source if the Afghan government failed to act.
Concluding the statement, the ISPR declared that Pakistan’s resolve remains unwavering: the nation and its armed forces will continue to safeguard the country’s borders and ensure that terrorism emanating from Afghan soil is eradicated completely.
